Traction stirrup



Aug. 21, 1934. G. w. HAWLEY 1,971,183 K TRACTION STIRRUP Filed Nov. 29.1932 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 21, 1934 1,971,183 TRACTION s'rrxiwr George W;Hawley, Colorado Springs, 0010., as-

signor to Seaman-Morris Company, Madison,

Wis.

Application November 29, 1932, SerialNo'. 644,767

4' Claims.

My invention relates to: surgical apparatus, and particularly to adevicefor supporting the foot of a patient while bandaging' or placing same ina cast.

An important object of the invention is toprovide such a device thatisuseful in fracture cases, and to afford sufficient traction toenablethe surgeon to align the fractured sections of the bone through tensionapplied to the m fractured member.

Otherobject's are to provide in such apparatus means for a strong,durable grip on the ankle that will not bind, that does not constrictcirculation, which does not cause pain and does not injure the skin, andis readily removable.

Still another object is to provide in an invention of the charactermentioned, a bandage or strap that can be removed without cutting thecast.

Further objects reside in novel details of construction and in novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will appear in the courseof the following description.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in theseveral views.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation, looking gain the direction ofthe arrow A in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a reduced elevation, similar to Figure 2, illustrating theuse of the invention.

Referring more in detail to my invention, the reference character 5designates a standard, such, for instance, as is found on a surgicaltable of the character shown and described in my co-pending applicationSerial No. 644,770,

41) filed November 29, 1932.

A sleeve 6, slidably mounted on the standard, is held in desiredpositions by a set screw '7. The sleeve has apertured, spaced ears 8,which carry a locking bolt 9. A stirrup is provided with an aperturedlug 11 that is inserted between the ears 8 and holds the stirrup indesired positions, through the intermediary of the bolt 9, which isinserted through the alined apertures of the ears and lug.

The stirrup proper is formed to provide a yoke adapted to embrace thefoot of the patient and having a head-piece or cross member 12, uponwhich the lug 11 is integrally formed, and arms or side members 13 and14 that are piv- 55" oted on the head-piece at 15 and 16 respectively.

The arms 13 and 1 4 have horns 1'7- and 18 respectively, projectingbeyond the pivots 15 and 1 6. The shoulders of the head-piece betweenthe lu'g 'and. the horns have been designated 19' and 20.-

. v 69 The: projecting end of the arm 13 has double hooks 21 and 22, andthe projecting end of the arm 14 has double hooks 23 and 24. Thehooksare mounted in knuckles 25 and 26 at the ends of the arms 13 and 14respectively.

The details of the pivotal mounting for the arms on the head-piece 12,are shown in detail in Figure 3. The head-piece has at its endsshouldered tenons 27, the shoulders of which are curved, as indicated inFigure l, to receive rounded fingers 28 on the arms at either side ofthe tenons 27.

The manner of wrapping the ankle of a foot in the stirrup is consideredone of the unique features of the invention and will be described inconnection with the use of the invention.

In the drawing, a foot 29 is shown in the stirrup and positioned againsta foot rest 36. The leg has been indicated by the numeral 30. Withoutany attempt to fully illustrate the leg, the tibia bone is suggested at31.

In the use of the invention, the stirrup is adjusted to the desiredheight on the standard and held in such position by the set screw '7.The stirrup is then pivotally moved in a vertical plane to the desiredangle and held there by the locking bolt 9. V

The foot is then placed in the stirrup, preferably with the rear portionof the arch resting on the head-piece. This gives sufficient spacebetween the ball of the foot and the stirrup for the application ofbandages or plaster for a cast. A strap or tape 32 is then laced aroundthe stirrup and ankle in the following manner: Starting at the upperleft hand corner of the stirrup, as it is shown in Figure 1, the strappasses around the shoulder 19, underneath the stirrup as shown, throughthe hook 22, across one side of the ankle, as indicated at 33, throughthe hook 24, under the stirrup, around the shoulder 20, along the top ofthe arm 14 as shown, through hook 23, across the other side of theankle, as indicated at 34, through hook 21, along the top of the arm 13to the place of beginning, where the ends of the strap are tied to eachother.

The foregoing wrapping may of course be repeated as many times asdesired. It will be noted, however, that the straps do not crisscrossand that the straps are not wound continuously around the ankle, thusfacilitating removal of the foot, after the cast or bandage is applied.

When a cast is applied, the portions 33 and 34 of the strap are encasedin the cast. After the cast has set and it is desired to remove thefoot, the portions of the strap near the pivots15 and 16, which areexterior of the cast, are severed, and the exposed parts of the strapare cut away. The exposed parts include those parts between the hooksand horns. The arms of the stirrup are then swung outward from the foot,and the' foot may be removed. The pieces of the strap. remaining in thecast can be withdrawn by pulling gently on one end of same, and noinjury will result to the cast.

The horns 17 and 18 prevent the strap from slipping off the shoulders ofthe head-piece, and, if desired, the ends of the strap may be tied toone of the horns.

The present invention not only provides more traction than heretofore,but also simplifies applying bandages or a cast, and simplifies removalof the foot from the stirrup. Changes may be made in the details withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It must be bornein mind that the device shown and described hereinbefore is merely anembodiment of the invention and of the foregoing objects.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In surgical apparatus, a foot stirrup having a cross member and sidemembers on the cross member, one end of the side members having hornsprojecting beyond the cross memher and the other end having doublehooks.

2. In surgical apparatus, a foot stirrup having side members providedwith horns andhooks at opposite ends, and a strap extending from onehorn, passed through one of the hooks on the same side member, acrossone side of an ankle of a foot in the stirrup, through a hook on theopposite side of the ankle from the firstmentioned hook, around theother horn, through a hook on the same side, across the other side ofthe ankle from that mentioned, through a hook on the first side and backto the first horn.

3. In surgical apparatus, a foot stirrup comprising a yoke, inclusive ofside members pivoted to swing away from a foot embraced by the yoke,the, side members having horns and hooks at opposite ends for theapplication of a strap in restraining relation to the foot.

4. In surgical apparatus, a foot stirrup comprising a yoke, inclusive ofside members pivoted to swing away from a foot embraced by the yoke, theside members having at opposite sides of their pivotal axes, horns andhooks for the application of a strap in restraining relation to thefoot.

GEORGE W. HAWLEY.

